You've Come a Long Way Baby

I was looking back over some photos 

of the house from the past two years.

This is what we started with in the Winter of 2011

right after we bought the house.

Heavy old drapery, dirty siding, over grown shrubs,

 and broken lighting

dressed the front like a soggy wet blanket.

Even from the side it was lacking some sparkle!

Early Spring 2011

 the house received new windows. 

We also upgraded the front door

and power washed the siding.

During the window installation,

our installer unknowingly

 gutted some of the front hedge!

Whoops!

The Fall of 2011 saw a few more changes with

the addition of new lighting, new siding on the upstairs peak,

and a painted front door!

Spring 2012

With the indoor renovations completed it came time

to address the front landscaping!

So out with the old....

... and in with the new!

In the next two years we expect it will fill in very nicely!

We were still lacking a little something...

so we built a window box for the upstairs window!

Winter 2012

All dressed up for Christmas!

Even from the side, she now sparkles!

From our house to yours

we hope and pray that this New Year

will bring you plenty of joy and sparkles!

Happy Belated New Year!

The Bernhardt's 

Joining up to Metamorphosis Monday over at

Between Naps on the Porch

C

As Easy As... 4 1 4

It is that time of year.....

Love the white pumpkins!

These we purchased at our local garden store!

Pumpkins are everywhere!

sweater pumpkins see here

They begin to overtake our decor....

Cinderella Dinner see here

 as they reign proudly over tabletops,

Mom's Garden

Outdoors Spaces....

Wire Pumpkins How-to see here

and mantles! 

And this year, at our house 

they have earned their numbers!

I am linking to the following parties:

Metamorphosis Monday

over at Between Naps on the Porch

B is for Bracelet

49 cents

Actually

 with my five dollar thrift store coupon,

this little find was 

free.

It lead a good life...

as a napkin holder

but....

It was destined for something more!

A new "foundation"...

A new "purpose"...

Some new ......

 bling!

I love when old things find....

a new life!

Disclaimer:

I love to collect and wear bracelets but

until the creation of this thrifty holder

I could not find a system that allowed for

storage but also provided a way for me to

have easy viewablity  and  accessibility.

I have been using this holder for months

and just love it! 

I am linking to the following parties:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality

Making Space Monday at Debt Free Mommy

Thank you ladies for hosting such great parties!

American Pie

This year fall has come early at

the Provision Orchard!

Apples are all multiplying like rabbits! 

So today we set about turning this bowl of apples

into something hot, sweet and delicious!

 I used premade pie crust for this project!

(now I do have a recipe for flaky crust... but I 

found these at GFS and when I'm making

4 pies... these are just as yummy and much easier!) 

Then the fun begins... core, peel and

slice apples, until your fingers turn brown!

It take 10 cups of sliced apples for 2 pies!  

Add 1 cup of white sugar.

 (1/2 if you are making 1 pie)

Next, add 1/3 cup of flour.

(eyeball half of 1/3 cup for 1 pie)

Every good pie needs spice...

so add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and...

(1/2 teaspoon for 1 pie)

< notice my brown nails :-) >

1 teaspoon of nutmeg (I use all spice)

(1/2 teaspoon for 1 pie)

and finally some salt.

The recipe call for a dash,

 I used 1/2 teaspoon for two pies!

Mix it all together and

divide into two pie shells!

Top the pies with 2 tablespoons of butter each!

We love a good crumb topping!

Add

1/2 cup of flour

1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

and

4 tablespoons of butter in a bowl.

(half all this for 1 pie)

Cut this mixture all together until

the butter is evenly distributed and crumbly!

Split this mixture between two pies!

Preheat the oven to 425!

To keep the edges of the crust from burning

I wrap them in tin foil.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Nap... while you wait!

Remove the tin foil and bake for another 5 minutes

until edges are just brown and the apples are juicy!

Remove from the oven and

 deliver piping hot to the neighbors!

Most importantly....

Enjoy!

I am linking up to Metamorphosis Monday!